Trolling Motor

[Jeff13]

I have a 18ft aluminum boat, center console and I'm getting ready to purchase a trolling motor. My question is: will a 12v 55 lbs trust be enough to push it?

[Olebiker]

I have a 40 pound thrust on my 17 foot Bass Tracker and it is plenty.

[ww2farmer]

I have a 17' w/ 44lbs and it is fine, so in short, yes I think I would think a 55 would be a good fit. That beeing said, I fish 99% of the time on one body of water that is well protected from any "major wind", and the current in the creeks is very light. So........take that for what it's worth. I have had it on some more exposed lakes with more wind and did not struggle either.

[koko36265]

I think it should be alright to....Like Olebiker I have a 17 foot bass tracker, but I have a 12v 45 pound motor guide trolling motor and it works just fine.... The lake I mainly fish has a pretty good current at times and it holds it's own... But, I think this is one of those situations where bigger is always better....

[Olebiker]

But, I think this is one of those situations where bigger is always better....

Ain't necessarily so.  I had a 12 foot jon boat that I used to fish little water.  The 27 pound thrust motor I had on it was too fast, even at its slowest setting.  I couldn't just set it on its low setting and work down a bank with a spinnerbait.  I would cast about 45 degrees in front of the boat and by the time I got the bait back to the boat, it was 45 degrees behind the boat.

[KevO]

I let my buddy use my 30lb minn kota on his 22ft pontoon.  It pushed it barely on speed 1 but speed 3 did a great job.  I think you will be fine with the 50lb.

[HPBB]

My self I would go bigger. I always say " go as big as you can afford"

If you have room for 2 batteries and can afford It I would move up to a 24volt tm.a 70# or 82#

A 24volt will give you more power and more run time. Just cause you have more power doesn't always mean you have to use it all the time.

I used to have a 55# 12 volt Minkota on my 17'6" Sea Nymph GLS 175 ( Deep V)

It was ok, but In heavy current or wind it just didn't cut it. and in a touranment the 12 volt didn't last long enough for my style of fishing. I moved up to a bigger motor. Remember my saying. I ended up getting a MotorGuide Tour Digital series 109# 36volt.

Yes, its overkill. But it is nice to have the extra power when I need it, but just because it has all that power dosen't mean it can't run slow. I can run it where the prop is bearly spinning to its spinning at full power. I am glad I went that big and wouldn't have it any other way.

But I would go for a 24volt if you can swing the extra $$ and room for two batteries.

[George Welcome]

When you buy this trolling motor and find it to inefficient it will be too late to turn back. Get the biggest you can. Also, there is a major difference between bow mounted and stern mounted trolling motors. I noticed you mentioned "push it". The stern mounted motors have ratings that tend to be overstated.

[Catt]

I agree with getting the biggest you can afford; unless I'm changing areas I rarely let it on continually.

[snapperd1]

Get a bigger one a 24 volt system will run all day and night at less then full speed where you will run the 55 alot harder using more battery.  I have a 22lbs on the front of my 16 foot boat and 2 55 lbs thrusters on the back.  They work but are not nearly enough.  Mind you though my bow mount is 22 years old and still going strong.  Also it is alot easier to pull a boat then to push a boat.

TD

[Al Wolbach]

I noticed you did not ask about shaft length so the info I am providing may not be needed. If you are looking for a bow mount motor the shaft length is determined by measuring from the top of the gunnel(at the bow) to the water line and add 22 inches. If the exact shaft length is not available get the next longest shaft available.

A 12 volt 55lb motor will work fine but if you fish tournaments or weedy lakes a 24 volt motor would be a better choice......................................Al

[llPa1nll]

My self I would go bigger. I always say " go as big as you can afford"

If you have room for 2 batteries and can afford It I would move up to a 24volt tm.a 70# or 82#

A 24volt will give you more power and more run time. Just cause you have more power doesn't always mean you have to use it all the time.

I used to have a 55# 12 volt Minkota on my 17'6" Sea Nymph GLS 175 ( Deep V)

It was ok, but In heavy current or wind it just didn't cut it. and in a touranment the 12 volt didn't last long enough for my style of fishing. I moved up to a bigger motor. Remember my saying. I ended up getting a MotorGuide Tour Digital series 109# 36volt.

Yes, its overkill. But it is nice to have the extra power when I need it, but just because it has all that power dosen't mean it can't run slow. I can run it where the prop is bearly spinning to its spinning at full power. I am glad I went that big and wouldn't have it any other way.

But I would go for a 24volt if you can swing the extra $$ and room for two batteries.

I couldnt agree more. I have a 74lb thrust motor, most of the time I am on it is usually on at about 40% power. If I wanted to I could probably get 2 or 3 trips out of a full charge but I always recharge when I park it.